MIAMI (Ticker) -- Alonzo Mourning had 25 points and 10 rebounds
and Eddie Jones scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter
as the Miami Heat opened their season with a 97-92 victory over
the Toronto Raptors.

Mourning, the heart of the Heat and one of the most dominating
players in the league before a kidney ailment limited him to 13
games last season, made 7-of-15 shots in 32 minutes. The 6-10
center also blocked four shots.

"It's not like I forgot how to play the game of basketball,"
Mourning said. "The thing that's not there is the conditioning.
The skill level is still there; I didn't lose that. I think we
can make some noise. I really feel that. It's a season of ups
and downs we just need to establish some consistency."

Jones, who suffered a dislocated shoulder late last season and
did not play any exhibition games, made just 6-of-15 shots but
answered a 3-pointer by Vince Carter with a 24-footer from the
right wing to give the Heat a 94-90 lead with 23 seconds to
play.

"I want to be able to get the ball in my hands and create
something for this team," Jones said. "I don't mind being the
goat. If it goes in, great; if it doesn't, OK. I'm going to
put myself into position to make plays for this team."

At the other end, Jones got a piece of the ball as Carter
penetrated with the option of passing or shooting. Hakeem
Olajuwon grabbed the loose ball after the block but missed an
18-footer from the baseline.

Jones grabbed the rebound and, after getting fouled, sank a pair
of free throws to give Miami a 96-90 advantage with 7.9 seconds
left. Carter hit two free throws with 4.4 seconds to go, but
Kendall Gill knocked down 1-of-2 for the final margin.

Brian Grant recorded 20 points and seven rebounds and Anthony
Carter had 11 and seven assists as the Heat won for the 10th
time in their last 12 home meetings with the Raptors.

Vince Carter, perhaps slowed by a bruised left knee as a result
of a collision with Orlando's Horace Grant in Tuesday's
season-opening 114-85 loss at Orlando, made just 6-of-18 shots.
The All-Star guard had 20 points and seven rebounds in 40
minutes.

Miami coach Pat Riley improved to 16-3 in season openers and
picked up his 1,050th career victory. Riley, who has primarily
relied on an eight-man rotation during his tenure with the Heat,
gave 10 players at least 10 minutes.

Morris Peterson scored 19 points and Alvin Williams added 18 for
Toronto, which opened with two straight losses for the second
straight season.

Peterson and Carter made 13-of-17 free throws, but the rest of
the Raptors shot just 48 percent (11-of-23) from the line.

"It was awful. We missed a lot of free throws," said Toronto
coach Lenny Wilkens. "When you get the opportunity to get to
the line and it doesn't happen often you have to take
advantage."

Toronto's Antonio Davis had 10 points and 15 rebounds before
fouling out with 4:21 remaining.

"It's frustrating when the referees make mistakes," Davis said.
"You don't want the refs to decide which team they want to win
and call the game accordingly."

Sean Marks, who had eight rebounds off the bench, made 1-of-2
free throws after Davis drew his sixth foul to give Miami its
biggest lead, 87-76. Carter, who missed all six shots he took
in the third period, hit a 3-pointer to pull the Raptors within
87-81 with 3:28 left.

Grant and Williams traded baskets before Olajuwon blocked Jones
to trigger a break that ended with a layup by Peterson. After a
turnover by Olajuown, Mourning sank a hook from the left
baseline to give the Heat a 91-85 lead with 1:38 remaining.

Olajuwon hit a jumper in the lane and was fouled with 47 seconds
left, grabbed his own rebound and drew another foul. He rimmed
another pair from the line, but a fortunate bounce gave Toronto
the ball again and Carter connected from the left wing to cut
the deficit to 91-90 with 39 seconds left.

Grant scored 14 points and Mourning added 12 in the first half,
when the Heat built a 50-47 lead.

The lead changed seven times in the third period before Miami
went ahead for good, 68-66, on a pair of free throws by Marks
with 58 seconds left.